Rafizi: PAC gag order is absurb
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Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli says the gag order forbidding Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Tony Pua from speaking on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) will be seen as an attempt to cover up the panel’s probe.
PAC gag order on Tony Pua absurd, says Rafizi
BY EILEEN NG
MALAYSIA INSIDER
Published: 3 November 2015 3:30 PM | Updated: 3 November 2015 5:01 PM
PKR's Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli says the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) move to ban Tony Pua from speaking on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) is indefensible. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 3, 2015.The gag order forbidding Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Tony Pua from speaking on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) will be seen as an attempt to cover up the bipartisan panel’s probe into the troubled firm, said PKR's Rafizi Ramli.Responding to PAC chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin's ban on Pua, the Pandan lawmaker said it was "absurd" that an MP who happened to be a PAC member could not talk about an issue of national importance.
"I am shocked by the PAC chairman's interpretation of the gag order. It's absurd, completely absurd, it cannot be defended at all. "This is a blatant attempt to cover up the 1MDB investigation and the public can see it.
"If they want to cover up or stop the proceedings at PAC level, I advise the chairman not to do it openly. Please be smart a bit, if you do this, people will see how PAC is being used to cover up 1MDB," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
Earlier this morning, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia ruled that Pua needed to quit PAC if he wanted to proceed with the debate with Arul Kanda as participating in the debate would make the DAP Petaling Jaya Utara MP a “prosecutor”, not “investigator”, and thus, eroded PAC’s credibility.
Citing Pandikar's ruling, PAC chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin had issued a gag order against Pua, saying that the staunch critic of the state investment firm could no longer talk or make any statements about 1MDB.
Rafizi, who had in the past been been critical of 1MDB, said he was surprised by Pandikar's ruling, saying that PAC proceedings were not criminal in nature and that no one would incriminate themselves in any way.
He added that Pua had shown "good discipline" despite being a PAC member and being critical of 1MDB.
"There are Standing Orders and confidentiality issues but there are no rules that state MPs cannot talk at all about any issue outside of Dewan Rakyat, let alone, if he's a PAC member."
Rafizi also brushed aside suggestions that he would be replacing Pua at the upcoming debate.
"The issue is bigger than that. I feel it is not hard to find a replacement Pakatan Harapan MP to debate against something indefensible. No matter how good you are as a debater, it is difficult to defend the indefensible."
There is also a question whether the debate will be used as an excuse by the government to prevent any federal lawmakers from voicing out their views on the matter, he added.
However, he said he would likely meet with DAP's Anthony Loke and Parti Amanah Negara secretary-general Anuar Tahir tonight to discuss Pua's replacement. – November 3, 2015.-
See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pac-gag-order-on-tony-pua-absurd-says-rafizi#sthash.SV7SxJET.dpuf
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